Apparel-corset.



D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET. APPLICATIONFILED JUNE 9, 1916.

Patented Oct. 17,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916 ,II I

||||||||||||| nmaw WITNESS D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1916.

LQOQQM. Patented 0ct.17,1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 4.

HIS A TTbR/VHS D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.191s.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1 I I 1 l MUM-WWW "w s M ---Ih\ am 1 WITNESS D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED lUNE 9 Patented Oct. 17,1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 6.

INVENTOR D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7.

INVE/V TOR WITNESS D. KOPS.

APPAREL CORSET.

APPLICATION VFILED mus 9. 1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

IN W N TOR DANIEL KOPS, or new YORK, iv. v;

APPAREL-CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed June 9, 1916. Serial No. 102,610.

To all whom it may concern.

. Be it known that I, DANIEL KoPs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Apparel-Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparel corsets and the object thereof, primarily, is the provision of devices in a corset to relieve the strain on the weak portion of a womans back by taking off the drag on the muscles, nerves, and blood vessels of the parts covered by these devices and thus putting these parts of the back in a state of physiological rest.

The great majority of backaches of women originate in the muscles at the small of the back due to overst-raining these muscles by the weight of heavy skirts hung at the Waist line of the body. The promontory of the sacrum or the solid part of the spine is located just below the waistline.

To this part of the spinal column are attached the muscles of the anterior and posterior abdominal walls which are the main supports of the abdomenand all the viscera contained therein. At this point of the spinalcolumn is attached the mesentery, the posterior ligaments of the uterus and other abdominal organs; and in fact practically the whole strain of supporting the abdomen and all its contained visceralis at this point. To relieve this strain at-the small of the back I employ in each corset body half of the garment a strap member which is attached at one end to the garment at approximately the hip section thereof and extends rearwardly toward the back edge of the corset. adjustable to position at one or both ends and in the adjustment thereof the back end of the strap member is preferably drawn to the back stays of the garment and away from the body at those parts of the garment which lie immediately over the spinal column at the small of the back. 'VVhen adjusted to position therefore there is an air space or pocket between the body and the strap and a similar air space or pocket between the strap and the overlying part of the corset. The strap therefore does not bear directly on the spinal column immediately below the waist line and consequently re- This strap member ismoves and relieves the strain at the small of the back and distributes the same to theportions of the garment both above and below the waist line where these portions of the garment come in contact with the body.

In carrying out my invention together with the back strap'member to which reference has hereinbefore been made I may employ uplifting devices applied to the front of the garment to properly support the abdomen, and in so doing the corset is provided with a complete girdle. The girdle supports the abdomen and all its contained viscera and in so doing also relieves the strain which would otherwise be placed on the muscles and ligaments designed to maintain the abdominal organs in position and which as hereinbefore stated are attached to the spinal column at the small of the back just below the waist line its use thus stimulates the action of the muscles in this region; prevents the kidneys from breaking from their moorings, which is a common complaint during pregnancy; relieves the strain on the inflamed and hyperemic uterus during the menstrual period, and supports the ovaries by the uplift in the front. In addition to these benefits it will be apparent that in the case of a healthy woman the use of my improved corset acts as a preveiitive by so supporting the abdomen and its contained viscera as to make impossible injuries due to excessive lifting, pulling or other methods of straining these parts of the body. A Furthermore it will be understood that the tension placed on the back strap when adjusted to position in use produces a flat-. tening effect on the back and compels a direct or upright carriage or position of the wearer of the garment which tends to reduce the abdomen by drawing thesame in and to extend and expand the chest by throwing the same up. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showing the inner side of one half of an apparel corset in which one form of my present invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line2, 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of the invention. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and.7 are views illustrating parts of corset body halves showing still further forms ofthe inillustrating another. manner of connecting the front strap shown in Fig. 9' to the lower front portion of the corset bodyhalf. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are elevations showing arts of the corset body half in which modifications of the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are illustrated. Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1 it will be seen that, in carrying in a corset, a suitably stayed body member 10 fitted at the front edge with asteel 11 and at the back or lacing edgewith series of eyelets 12. The stays by which the body portion 10 are stifi'ened are illustrated at 13 and also as shown the corset-body may be provided with ,2. depending skirt 14 in which in suitable positions hose supporters 15"are attached. I

In each part of the .corset garment as hereinbefore described I employ a back strap preferably comprising, a plurality of tapes 16 secured at one, end by a reinforcing strip 17 which is secured in the corset garment as illustrated in this figure along a line of sewing 18 adjacent the hip section.

, At the other or rear end the tapes 16 are connected as illustrated in this figure by a reinforcing strip 19 in which there is a se- .ries of eyelets 20preferably spaced the same distance'apart as are the eyelets 12 in the back lacing edge of the garment. Adjacent "the rowv of eyelets the reinforcing strip 19 able position the tapes 16 formingthe back may be provided with a bone or stiffener 21. Also as illustrated'in this figure in a suitstrap may be connected intermediateof their ends by a tie or spacer strip 22. It'is to be noted thatthe tapes 16 are so placed to diverge from the hip section toward the back lacing of the corset and this is to local-' ize the strain at the hip section and to distribute the same over as large an area as possible at'the rear or back end of the strap."

In the use 'of the garment with the attachmenthereinbefore described the usual laces lying portion of the corset garment and that this back strap is so placed in the corset body half as to lie over the small of the back of the body of the wearer for the greater part immediately above the waistline. Due

to the curve of-the body at the back immediately above the waist line'in'. adjusting the corset to position there is a space between the body of the wearer and the back lacing edge of the corset garment and as will be apparent from the foregoing description in lacing the corset with this back strap to position, due to the fact that the back laces as illustrated in this figure pass through both series of eyelets, the back end of the strap will be drawn toward the back lacing edge of the garment and may be so drawn until the eyelets 20 in the reinforcing strip 19 register with corresponding eyelets 12 in the back lacing edge of the garment. In so adjusting the garment and strap to position it will be apparent thereforethat as out my inventlon I employ, as is customary shown in Fig. 2 the rear-Tend of the strap will be drawn to theback lacing edge of. the garment .and away from the body '0 the wearer, the body of the wearer being indicated by the line shown at 24 while the back lacing edge of the corset is indicated at 25. .This condition exists at the back Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that in- -.stead of employing a continuous back strap the same may be divided and made adjustable at thehip section as well as at the back lacing edge of the corset. In so doing as illustrated in this figure an anchor strap 26 is secured along one edge'adjacent the hip section of the garment and rovided with a series of eyelets 27. In this construction the reinforcing strip 17 is also provided with a series of eyelets 27 and a lace 27 is threaded through the eyelets 27 and 27" and also passed through eyelets in the body of the garment so that the adjustment may be made exteriorly thereof. In this construction it is also to be noted that the spacing of the eyelets 27 does not correspond to the spacing of the eyelets 27 so that in adjusting the strap to position the forward 1 or hip section thereof is drawn both toward the anchor strap 26 and downwardly toward the lower edge of the garment whereas in the adjustment at the rear lacing edge of the corset "the direction of movement of the strapin being adjusted to position is substantially circumferential of the garment; This eflects a slight shift of the strap,

tends to lower the hip section end and to raise the opposite end edge of the corset.

at the back lacing As shown in Fig. 4 it will be understood that adjacent the hip section or in any other position the back strap may be provided with an elastic insert 28. As illustrated in this figure one edge of the elastic insert" 28 is secured to the garment adjacent the hip section along a line of sewing 29 and at its opposite edge the elastic insert is secured in the reinforcing strip.30 to which at its opposite side the narrow end of the strap is attached. At the wider end the back strap in this case is adjustably secured to the rear lacing edge of the garment in the same manner as that hereinbefore described in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates an instance in which as shown the wider end of the back strap may be permanently secured adjacent the rear lacing edge of the corset as indicated by a line of sewing at 31, the tapes being immediately secured to this portion of the garment, as illustrated, or by means of a reinforcing strip as may seem preferable depending upon conditions under which the garment is to be used. The back strap shown in Fig. 5 also includes an elastic insert 28 which at one edge is secured to a reinforcing strip 30 at the narrow end of the strap while the opposite end of this elastic fabric insert is provided with a series of eyelets 32 adapted to be adjustably connected by means of a lace 36 with eyelets 35 similarly placed in an anchor member 33 which at one edge is secured in the garment adjacent the hip section along the line of sewing indicated at 34. The lace 36 is also passed through eyelets 37 in the body of the garment so that the adjustment may be effected exteriorly thereof. In this case as well as in others the tie or spacer strip may be reinforced by a bone or stiffener indicated at 38.

In Fig. 6 I have also shown an instance in which the tapes forming the back strap are arranged to taper and at the wider end of the-strap are secured adjacent the back lacing edge of the garment along the line of sewing indicated at 39. In this instance at the opposite or forward edge these tapes may be brought together folded over each other and suitably secured one to the other, at which end they are provided with a hook 40.- In this construction at the hip section of the garment-I provide a reinforcing strip 41 in which a number of eyelets 42 are placed either one of which may be engaged by the hook 40 in order to adjust the back strap 1 to position and determine the tension which is to be placed on the same in use.

Fig. 7 illustrates an instance in which the back strap may be constructed in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 6 with the exception of being permanently connected adjacent to the rear lacing edge of the garlets 44 so that the same may be adjustably connected by the lacing devices at the rear edge of the garment in the same manner as that hereinbefore. described in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. j

Together with any of the forms of back strap hereinbefore described I may also employ a strap in the lower front portion of each corset body half and adapted to be adjusted at the same time both inwardly and upwardly soas to produce pressure in corresponding directions on the body of the wearer in order that the combined back and front straps may act as a girdle substantially surrounding the body of the wearer to support the abdomen and all the organs therein without placing the strain of-so doing on the small of the back as hereinbefore mentioned in the introduction to the specification.

By reference to Fig. ,8 the back strap is similar to the corresponding part shown in Fig. 5 with the exception that the elastic insert is omitted and the front strap is similar to a like member shown and described in Letters Patent, No. 1,152,109, granted to me August 31, 1915. In this structure the rear or wider end of the back strap is provided with a reinforcing strip 46 secured along a line-of sewing 47 adjacent the back lacing edge of the garment. The strap tapers as in the other constructions to the forward end at which the tapes are secured the strap may be effected exteriorly of the corset. In this garment the lower front portion of the skirt 55 overlies the lower front portion of the body 56 of the corset in which the lower front steel terminates. Adjacent the lower front portion of the corset one end of the front strap 57 is suitably secured along one edge.' This front strap also includes anelastic insert 58 which extends rearwardly with the strap terminating in a reinforcing strip 59 provided with eyelets 60.'

'At the hip section of the. garment and ad-' 'jacent the anchor member 50 is a second anchor member 61 in which also there is a series of eyelets 63, the anchor member 61 being secured to the garment along'a line of sewing 62. The anchor member 61 is conby a lace 6 1 which passes through the eyelets '60 and 63 and also through an eyelet 65 in the body of the garment so that this strap may be adjusted to position exteriorly of the corset. Normally the front strap lies in the position shown in dotted lines and in being adjusted to-place the inner end thereof is drawn upwardly and inwardly imparting a similar movement to the entire strap whereby pressures in these directions are simultaneously brought to bear on the body of the wearer. It will also be. apparent that as the front and back straps are substantially continuous they form a girdle substantially surrounding the body of the wearer with the girdle at the back as hereinbefore described adjusted so as not to come into contact with the underlying back of the wearer immediately above the waist line and this, as hereinbefore described, when the parts are adjusted to position the desired support is effected without the detrimental effects which might otherwiseresult if the pressure in obtaining this support were exerted against the small of the back.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated another form of the invention in which the back strap is constructed in a manner similar to that.

shown in Fig. 1 in which at-the narrow end thestrap "the tapes aresecured to the body "of the garment adjacent the hip section alon a line of sewing indicated at 67, while at the opposite or rear end of the strap the {tapes are secured in a reinforcing strlp '68- having a series of eyelets 69 by which the strap is adjustably connected with the lacing devices at the rear of the garment. front strap in this structure is similar to that shownin Letters Patent, No. 1,127,023,

- granted to me February 2, 1915. This front strap is also composed in this instance of a.

series of overlapping tapes. secured at one end along a line of sewing 70 in the body of the garment adjacent the hip section and also adjacent the line in which the forward end of the back strap tapes are secured therein. The tapes forming the front strap run toward the front of the garment and at their forward end are suitably connected and are provided with a series of eyelets 71. i

In this structure the lower front portion of the front steel is fitted with a hook 72 pro- 7 .je'c'ting from the outward side thereof and in this formof garment the lower front por tion of the body 73 in which the lower front portion of the steel terminates .underlies the adjacent portion of the depending skirt 7 4:.

Depending from the lower front portion of body of the garment I may also employ a hose supporter "strap 75. In this structure itlie forward of the frontstrap fis' adiciiusd to .pos ie by the engagement be.- tween lthe hoek2jan'd. any one of theeyelets 71 with this fisrward end or the strap lying The between the skirt in the lower front portion of the corset body proper.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a variation of this construction in which the hook 76 may pro ject from the inner surface of the lower front portion of the corset body proper and in which instance as it will be understood the forward or front end of the tapes forming the front strap is adjusted to position on the inner side of this lower front portion of the corset body proper. In reference to Fig. 10 the front and back straps are made substantially continuous. In this instance the back strap comprises tapes secured at their back edges in a reinforcing strip 77 fitted with eyelets 78 by which this end of the strap is adjustably connected to the lacing devices at the rear of the garment. The forward or hip section ends of these tapes are connected to astrip 79 along a line of sewing 80 at one edge thereof. In the opposite edge of this connecting strip 79 one end of'the front strap, preferably made of suitable elastic fabric 81, is secured along a line of sewing 82, while at its forward end the edge of the elastic fabric is connected to a reinforcing strip 83 along a line of sewing 84. This reinforcing strip is provided with a series of eyelets 8 5. Adjacent the lower front edge of the garment is an anchor strip '86 fitted with eyelets 87 and the adjacentend of the front strap is connected to the anchor member 86by a lace 88 which passes through the eyelets 85 and 87 and also garment at the hip section thereof.

By reference to Fig. 11, it will be seen scribed, mayalso be employed in conjunction with a self reducing strap which is shown and described in Letters Patent, No. 1,044,191, November 12, 1912, or No.

rear end of the back strap is adjustably connected with the lacing devices at the back of the garment in the same manneras thoseshown in Fig. 10 and at the for- 'that the back strap, as hereinbefore de- 1,105,330, July 28, 1914:. In this structure the ward or hip section end of the back strap the tapes are attached to the garment along a line of sewing indicated at 90. The self reducing strap employed inthis structure is indicated at 91, and is attached to the garment adjacent. the hip section immediately forward of the line of attachment of the adjacent endof the back strap. At. its forward end the self reducin strap is provided with eyelets 92 and the" ront steel with a hook 93 by means of which the position of the self reducing strapmay be determined. The s'elf reducin'g strap also in- "cludes a depending hose supporter member strap is provided with a reinforcing strip 96 in which there are eyelets 97 so that the same may be adjustably connected with a lace 98 employed at the rear lacing edge of the garment. At. the forward or hip section end ofthe back strap the tapesare con nected to a reinforcing strip 99 in which there are eyelets 100. Adjacent the hip section an anchor member 101 issecured to the garment and provided with eyelets 102 through which and through the eyelets 100 a lace .103 passes. This lace also passes through eyelet 104.111 the body of the garment so that this end of thestrap may be ad usted to position exteriorly of the corset.

Adjacent the anchor member 101 is a second anchor member 105 fitted with eyelet s, 106. The hip section end of the front strap in .thisinstance is provided with a reinforcing strip 107 having eyelets 108'through which as well as through the eyelets 106 a lace 109-passes. At its forward or front end the front strapis provided with reinforcing strip 110 in which there are eyelets 111 and adjacent the lower front edge of the corset there is another anchor member 112 fitted with eyelets 113. A lace 114 passes'through the. eyelets 111 and 113 and also through eyelets 115 so that this end of the "front strap may be adjusted exteriorly of the garment in the same manner that the rear or hip section end thereof may be adjusted by passing the lace 109 through eyelet 116.

I claim as my invention r 1. In anapparel corset and in each corset body half, a strap on the inner surface thereof,'adjacent the waist line and extendmgjapproximately from thehip section to the rear edge, and means for adjusting said strap to position whereby the same is made to fit the body mofi snugly than the overlying portion of the garment.

2. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, and means for adjusting said strap to position between the hip section and the rear edge of the overlying portion of the body of the garv garment whereby the strap is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the ment. v

3. In-an apparel corset and in each corset body half, 'a tension strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, and

connected at one end to the corset body half adjacent thehip section thereof, and means for adjustably connecting the other end of the tension strap adjacent the edge of the garment whereby the Strap is made to fit the body of the wearer -more snugly than the overlying portion of the body of the garment.

4. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, means for adjustably connectingone end of the strap at approximately the hip section, and means for adjustably connecting the other end of the strap adjacent the rear edge of the garment whereby in adjusting the strap to by the same is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the overlying portion of the body of the garment.

6. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a tension strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line and extending from approximately the hip section toward the rear edge of the garment, the said tension strap being shorter'than the overlying portion of the body of the gar- -ment, and means'for adjusting said tension strap between the hip sectionand the rear,

edge of the garment whereby the said strap when in position is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the overlying portion ofthe body of the garment. 7. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, connected at one end adjacent the hip section and ex: tending toward the rear edge of the garment, said strap being shorter than the overlying portion of the body of thegarment, and means for adjustably connecting the opposite end of the strap adjacent the rear I edge of the garment whereby the strap is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the overlying portion of the body of the garment.

-8. In. an apparel corset and in each corset body'half, atension strap on the inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, and extending from the hip section toward the rear edge of the garment, said strap being shorter than the overlying portion. of the body of the garment, means for adjustably connecting one end of the strap adjacent the hip section of the garment, and means for adjustably connecting the opposite end of the strap adjacent the rear edgeof the garment whereby the strap is made to fit I the overlying portion of the body of the.

garment. 9. In an apparel corset and in each corset.

body half, a strap on the inner surface thereof',"adjacent'the waist line and extending approximately from the hip section to the rear edge, means for'adjusting said strap Q to position wherebythe same is made to fit the body more snugly than the overlying portion ofthe garment, and means associated with the lower front portion of each corset body half and adjustable to position therein for properly supporting the abdomen of the wearer. v

10.. In an apparel corset and each corset whereby the strap is made to fit the body r of the wearer more's'nugly than the ov'erl v ing'port on of-the body of the garment, and

means associated with the lower front portioniof each corset body half and adjustable to position therein for properly supporting the abdomen of the wearer;

11. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a tension straponthe inner surface thereof, adjacent the waist line, and

connected at one end to the corset body half adjacent the hip section thereof, means for adjustably connecting the other end of the tension strap adjacentthe edge of the garment whereby the strap is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the overlying portion of the'body' of the garment, and means associated with the lower front portion of each corset body half and adjustable to position therein for properly supporting the abdomen of the wearer.

12. In an apparel corset and in each corset body half, a strap on the inner surface.

thereof, adjacent the waist line, means for adjustably connecting one end of. thestrap at approximately the hip section, means for adjustably connecting the other end of-the strap adjacent the rear edge of the garment whereby in adjusting the strap to position the same'is made to fit the body of the wearer more snugly than the overlying portion of the body of the garment, and means associated with the lower front portion of each corset body half and adjustable to position therein for properly supporting the abdomen of the wearer.

Signed by me this 26th day of May, 1916.

' DANIEL KOPS. 

